Cadets71

Hi. I was banded on Thrusday , June 5th. My doctor wants me back on all my medications - a total of 16 of them! I am having trouble getting them down except in jello but there are so many of them, I could eat a whole cup of jello just to get them down and I am limited to 3 Tablespoons of jello 3x's per day. Any suggestions/ideas on how to get all the crushed pills down?

Hey Miss Diva, Good for you! I am hanging in there with you. Just got back from the gym...did 2.5 mph on the treadmill. Doing resistance every other day. My blood sugar has been crashing so I ate oatmeal and an egg for breakfast, then 1/2 cup of beans and lo-fat cheese for lunch (after exercise). I think the liquid is a good idea, but I don't think I can do it right now - so I am going to look for an early success just eating right. Actually gained a lb since Monday - who knows? Am only going to weigh once a week. Give my body a chance to resdistribute and shed! I have also decided to find some rewards when I lose 10 lb. First reward is going to be a massage. AND, I am keeping my catalogs and looking at clothes as a motivator. I am thinking about you!!

Hello, Irene and Everyone. I signed onto the website today for the first time in about 3 months, intending to "come clean" and ask for some support. The first thing I saw was this thread! I realized none of us are ever really alone. I slipped badly!! I needed to publicly acknowledge that. This seems like a good thread to log into everyday. I have been fighting my way back for three days now. I have re-started my exercise program and am back of a lap band diet. In all, I have gained 17 lb since I went off program. No excuses - there are none, really. But, I am disgusted with myself and am hopeful that I can re-commit and get this weight off! I don't know if I have stretched my pouch or what, but it doesn't matter. I know that restricting input and adding exercise will work. I look forward to seeing you all here everyday. Thanks for starting this thread!!

I am so sorry I will not see you all in December. I'll be in Oregon visiting my Mom on the 14th. Have a wonderful time and thanks to all of you who made things easier for me this past year. Our little get-togethers are so important to my mental health. I wish each of you the happiest of Holidays. See you in the New year!! Hugs!

Hi Everyone, I guess I will close out this string; we had a wonderful group today and I think Felicia may try to put something together for December. So look for our new thread - on a December get together. We had 3 new people today: Cassie and her husband, Steve, and Purple Sloane. As always we had a good time and shared our stories and our news. I am so glad we put this group together and that it has been so helpful to so many of us!! Remember, everyone is welcome to join us. Just respond to our open invites! Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!!!:laugh:

Cassy, Of course...bring him. There is ALWAYS room for one more!!

Hi George!! Just saw your post. All the info is on the Nevada thread (under local groups). We are meeting at 1:00 on SUn the 23rd. I have you and Margie on my list. Lokk forward to seeing you!!

OOPS! I meant to say that we will be the group of women accompanied by one wonderful man...George!! Sorry George, didn't mean to leave you out!!

Cassie - just ask for Mary's group. Reservation is under my name. We will be the friendly-looking group of women who are laughing and talking. We come in all sizes since we are all at different points on our journey. Lovcinderella - Please join us on the 23rd! You will find us to be a GREAT support group. I am bringing a friend who is just now starting the journey. Many of us go to Dr. Atkinson. I promise, you will feel VERY comfortable! Everyone - I am making the reservation this evening. If your plans change and you cannot make it, please let me know. If you are new and want to sign up - just give me a post here. This is my list as of today: Cassy FeliciaLevy Mary +1 Elaine Judy Hootie Betty Purplesloan George Margie Hemmej - let me know if you will be able to join us!! Look forward to seeing everyone!!

Cassy, Did you see our thread on the Nov meeting? It's a lunch at 1:00 at the Elephant Bar restaurant in the District at Green Valley in Henderson. Hope you will come. WE can talk!!

Cassy, From my experience, there are 4 practices in Nevada. Two are new and two are established. I believe Dr. Atkinson's practice will take on patients but there is usually a $300 fee. I think you will need to call each one. I have referred three people to Dr. Teng's practice and they were not pleased with the recepton, or lack thereof. Why don't you join us in Novemebr. There are a couple folks in our little group that have met all of the doctors. We would love to have you. Look at out thread on the November get-together at the Elephant Bar in The District, across from Green Vally Ranch Hotel and Casino. Good Luck!

Have been so stalled out (made bad food choices). Seem to be moving forward now! Name_________StartWeight___CurrentWeight______Goal________ToGo *****<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = V /><V:SHAPETYPE id=_x0000_t75 path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f" filled="f" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"></V:SHAPETYPE>**************************************** * agreatknead........204............194...........180...........14 areellady..........189............189...........159...........30 BIGB...............342............342...........300...........42 BellaPerdente......253............223...........195...........28 Boos02.............258............226...........200...........26 Brandy.............221............211...........191...........20 BrownBear..........240............235...........200...........35 Cadets71.........223.4............220.4.........189...........31.4 Claudine...........250............231...........225............6 Bunkey1965.........194............177...........170............7 CubsGirl17.........172............161...........150...........11 Cutiew/booty.......251............237...........220...........17 cQQlgirl...........195............189...........175...........14 crzytchr...........276............265...........246...........19 Donna113...........199............192.5.........160...........32.5 Ekat...............527............172...........152...........19 feefee57...........262............212...........180...........32 FeliciaLevy75......240............222...........190...........32 GillieBean.........304............296...........264...........32 HeatherO...........150............143...........130...........13 Hollie ............l54............154...........125...........29 Jeni85.............182............182...........160...........22 Jillbeme...........235..........206.5...........185.........21.5 Josie74............260............255...........215...........40 klmsilva...........216............212...........190...........26 legster............183............183...........160...........23 linksmom...........251............236...........200...........36 Liquidbluegal......225..........214.6...........199.........15.6 Liz_hager..........161............158...........130...........28 Long2BThin.........253............228...........215...........13 lotzasunshine......292............283...........250...........33 Luu2008............230..........199.5...........153.........46.5 Lunabeane..........244...........197............187.........10.0 Mamanmidwife.......295............276...........260...........16 Melissa Aguirre ...266............233...........160....... 73 Melody2006.........223............223...........173...........50 MiniPearl#2........???............???...........???...........?? Minxz..............299............287...........270...........17 neefam.............238............189...........158...........31 odizzzydori........242............242...........199...........43 paige65............252............240...........220...........20 rainer.............236............231...........210...........21 Redtulips3.........180............175...........160...........15 reif78.............294............195...........140...........40 RichardCranium.....338............276...........200...........76 soontobehottie.....201............191...........165...........26 srknepler..........285............253.7...........255.........-1.3 squale.............353............353...........325...........28 Sunshine2..........177............167...........160...........07 Suzzzie............305............305...........285...........20 stevegoad..........370............341...........267...........74 Terilynn112........240............227...........199...........41 Truediva...........299............285...........235...........50 thininside28.......255............255...........215...........40 Turler.............219............215...........194...........21 youcandoit!........196............187...........165...........22 __________________ __________________

Hemmej, Welcome!!! We get together once a month. We started in August. We are always looking for more bandsters to join us!! There are anywhere from 6-9 of us. We have a lot of fun. Our pictures are posted under the October and September get-togethers. We were all strangers when we met. Now we are friends. It's been great support for all of us. Hope you will join us this month!! We plan our next get-together at each months lunch or dinner. Not sure what the December plans will be!!! We'll decide in November. Let us know if you can join us!!

I won't do the reservation until the week before. It will be under "Mary". Yes, mom, I will call Elaine. Just to clarify: The receptionist was the dingbat...not my good buddy Felicia!! :thumbup:

Hootie, don't worry about it. When I got there, she told Judy and I there was no reservation but they would put a table together. About 10 minutes later, Felicia comes out and asks why we were waiting in the lobby!! She was a dingbat of the first order!!!

Bonnie, how has it gone for you with Dr. Teng? Maybe we could talk offline...

We had a great time at PF Chang's this evening. We shared our orders and the total cost was $9 per person! Missed those of you who didn't make it! We decided on Saturday, September 27th, for our next "meeting". The location is the Claim Jumper at Green Valley Parkway and 215; 601 N Green Valley Pkwy, Henderson, NV 89074. Reservations will be for 5:00 pm. They have a great menu of fish, soups, salads...and we can share entrees between us because the sizes are large; also, they offer half size portions. Check out the menu at www.claimjumper.com If you sign up to come, but are unable to make it at the last minute - please post a regret. We are saving seats based on your sign up and it's embarrassing when 5-6 people are no-shows. Things do happen, so just let us know if something will keep you away. We have a great time and hope lots of you will come in September!!

I need to get back on my osteoporosis medication but I can't find any guidance on using Boniva. My surgeon and my primary care both seem clueless. I was just wondering if Boniva would be too "strong" for my pouch. Anyone out there taking Boniva?? Thanks for your input!

If your Doctor accepts Tricare assignment, e.g. he files for your surgery with Tricare and he accepts payment from them, then he CANNOT bill you the balance. However, if he requires you to pay, and to file with Tricare yourself, then he is not accepting ASSIGNMENT AND HE CAN BILL YOU FOR THE WHOLE BALANCE. Note that his bill is separate from the hospital, so the hospital bill should be covered by Tricare, if they are in the network (and most are). I am standard Tricare. My surgeon billed $9,600; Tricare paid $1,640 and my gap insurance picked up the rest. So, I had no out of pocket costs. I think Prime patients are also covered 100%. Just FYI for everyone reading this thread. Tricare reimbursement rates are based on Medicare rates - they are the same. You may have heard lately that the Congress was tryng to pass a bill to further lower Medicare reimbursements.. I wrote each of my Congressmen and Senators to tell them that when they do that - they are hurting military families as well as retirees 65 and older. When you see Medicare being adjusted...just remember it will affect us as well!

Cookienay, I found it interesting that COEs cannot turn a patient away. Where can I find this information. I have a friend who has had a terrible time finding a Dr. in Las Vegas. We have TWO COEs, but they would not take her. Thanks for your help!

I have Tricare and they have paid each of my post-op visits just like they would any office visit claim, including the visits when I had a fill. If you have questions, it's always good to call your Tricare contractor directly and they will give you the information you need. I don't know where you are from but I live in the West so Triwest is my Tricare contractor. Good Luck.

I understand the problem!! I am 4 months out and really losing quite a bit every time I brush my hair, or even run my fingers through it. My surgeon said to take Zinc tablets (in addition to making sure I get the Protein intake). He actually has his patients on Zinc from surgery on but I had stopped taking them. I have been back on my Zinc for about 10 days - can't tell yet if it is helping. Hope we both stop shedding! :tt1:

Elaine and I will be there.

Hey Everyone!!! It was so good to be with you all yesterday. I really look forward to our meetings every month! You guys are all so great! Thanks, George, for treating! You are such a generous soul. Can't wait til October. Everyone out there in LV is so welcome to join us! Yvonne, thanks for posting our pickture - it's good!! Love & Hugs to you all.....

Hootiebelle, YEA!! I am looking forward to meeting you! Three of us will be there at 4:30 to save the table - don't worry and drive safely!! See you and your friend there!